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Shaq, Allen Iverson headline finalists for 2016 Hall of Fame class

Shaq, Allen Iverson headline finalists for 2016 Hall of Fame class

As expected, when the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced the finalists for enshrinement in the Hall's Class of 2016 during media day at All-Star Weekend in Toronto, Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson headlined the list of luminaries.

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They were joined at the announcement by Yao Ming, who was not officially anounced as a finalist on Friday, but who had previously been nominated for enshrinement through the Hall's International Committtee, and will join them in consideration for a spot in this summer's class.

The three stars became eligible for induction this season thanks to a pair of calls made last year by the Hall's decision-makers. First, they determined that Iverson's 10-game post-NBA stint playing in Turkey didn't count as a full season of professional play, meaning that A.I. — who didn't officially announce his retirement until October 2013, but who played his final NBA game in February 2010 — met the criteria of being "fully retired for five years before being eligible for Enshrinement." Then, they changed that guideline altogether, reducing the waiting period from five years to four years and opening the door to nomination for O'Neal and Yao, both of whom played their last NBA game during the 2010-11 season.

Some have charged that the Hall made those decisions in order to avoid fielding a 2016 class lacking in star power, especially coming on the heels of a 2015 ceremony that saw many worthy Hall of Famers enshrined — Dikembe Mutombo, Spencer Haywood, Jo Jo White, John Calipari, Lisa Leslie, Tommy Heinsohn and Louie Dampier, among others — but that didn't generate widespread crossover interest ... or, at least, not quite the level of interest that stars like Shaq, A.I. and Yao would generate. Hall of Fame President John Doleva, however, has said the decisions weren't driven by marketing.

Whatever the motivation, we're here now, which means we're all but assured a Shaq speech at the Hall this summer ... and, judging by the way he held court on Friday, that figures to be quite an event:

While Shaq — a four-time NBA champion with one league Most Valuable Player award, three NBA Finals MVP trophies, 14 All-NBA appearances, gold medals in the 1994 FIBA World Championship and 1996 Summer Olympics, and two NBA scoring titles — is an absolute lock to get in on his first try, there are some who question whether Iverson and Yao are first-ballot certainties.

Unlike Shaq and Iverson, who were nominated through the Hall's North American committee, Yao was nominated through the International committee, a "direct-elect" panel that includes just one round of voting to go from finalist to enshrinement, as opposed to the two rounds of cuts that most candidates from the NBA, NCAA and ABA must survive. Because he's routed through the International Committee, voters will consider both Yao's NBA resume — five All-NBA appearances in nine NBA seasons, with four years shortened by injuries and one in which he didn't play at all — alongside an international career that includes one Chinese Basketball Association championship and MVP award; three FIBA Asia Championships and MVP awards; and quarterfinal appearances with the Chinese national team during the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics.

Iverson made seven All-NBA teams and 11 All-Star teams, won four scoring titles and one MVP award, ranks in the top 25 in NBA history in per-game scoring and total points, and made an indelible mark on the culture of the game, but as SB Nation's Tom Ziller noted in September, the "secretive voting body in charge of the Hall" might not be so thrilled about ushering A.I. into Springfield.

That's "Springfield," Allen.

Joining those stars among the list of finalists: former Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns guard Kevin Johnson, a three-time NBA All-Star who was the first player in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 10 assists and two steals per game over the course of a full season while also making half of his field-goal attempts:

Now the mayor of Sacramento, Calif., Johnson has made the final cut before, but has yet to earn the requisite 18 of 24 votes from the Hall's Honors Committee to earn election. His candidacy this year could bring the Hall the kind of publicity it might not want, however, as he's been embroiled in controversy in recent months amid renewed focus on allegations that he sexually abused a teenager in 1996. Johnson has repeatedly disputed the allegations, and never faced criminal charges in connection to the claims.

Other 2016 finalists from the North American and Women's committees include:

Darell Garretson: Spent 27 years as an NBA referee, officiating 1,798 regular season games, 269 playoff games, 41 Finals games and five All-Star games; served as NBA chief officiating staff and director of officials for 18 years; instrumental in organizing and heading the first union for referees, the National Association of Basketball Referees.

Tom Izzo: Decorated college coach who has led Michigan State to 18 straight NCAA tournament appearances, seven NCAA Final Four berths and the 2000 NCAA National Championship.

John McLendon: Already enshrined as a "contributor," McLendon is now a finalist for induction as a coach after becoming the first African American to coach in a professional league and the first coach to win three consecutive national championships during his time at Tennessee State.

Sheryl Swoopes: Six-time WNBA All-Star, five-time All-WNBA First Team selection, four-time WNBA champion, three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player, three-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, three-time Olympic gold medalist, one-time NCAA champion.

Wayland Baptist University: Coached by Hall of Fame nominee Harley Redin, the Wayland Baptist University women’s basketball team won 131 consecutive games between 1953 and 58 and 10 AAU National Championships.

Charles “Lefty" Driesell: The only coach in NCAA history to win 100 games at four different schools, one of just four coaches to lead four schools to the NCAA Tournament, and the only coach in NCAA history to be named Conference Coach of the Year in four different conferences; eighth among Division I coaches in all-time victories with an overall coaching record of 786-394 (.666).

Leta Andrews: The all-time winningest coach in high-school basketball history, boys' or girls'; has led five Texas schools to 16 total state Final Four appearances, plus a state championship in 1990; named the NHSCA National High School Coach of the Year and received the Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award; member of both the High School Basketball Hall of Fame and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Robert Hughes: The winningest coach in boys' high school basketball history, with an overall record of 1,333-247 (.844), 35 district championships and five Texas state championships; coached high school basketball in Texas for 47 years, helping advocate for integration during that time; recipient of the Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award and member of both the Texas Basketball Hall of Fame and High School Basketball Hall of Fame.

Muffett McGraw: Three-time Consensus National College Coach of the Year, who has led Notre Dame to 22 NCAA Tournament berths, 13 Sweet Sixteens, seven Elite Eights, seven Final Fours and one National Championship in 2001.

Bo Ryan: Won four NCAA Division III championships as a coach, led Wisconsin to four Big Ten regular-season championships and two Final Four berths.

Eddie Sutton: Four-time National Coach of the Year, first coach in NCAA history to lead four different schools to the NCAA Tournament, seventh among Division I coaches in all-time victories with three Final Fours, six Elite Eights and 12 Sweet Sixteen appearances.

Among those who did not make the cut this year: Chris Webber, whom many would argue had a better combined professional and college career than Johnson but also missed the final round last year; Tim Hardaway, who did make the final round in 2015 but didn't get into the Hall; and George McGinnis, who spent four stellar years with the Indiana Pacers of the ABA and made three NBA All-Star teams in seven post-merger seasons.

North American and Women's Committee finalists need 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Those who make the cut will join enshrinees from the "direct-elect" Early African-American Pioneers, International, Contributors and Veterans Committees announced on Monday, April 4, at a press conference in Houston prior to the NCAA Men’s Championship game. The Class of 2016 will be enshrined in Springfield during the weekend of Sept. 8-10, 2016.

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Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at devine@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!

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